Minn. man arrested in death of 18-month-old girl

MINNEAPOLIS -- A 35-year-old man was charged with second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend's 18-month-old daughter, CBS Minnesota reported on Friday.

The Maplewood police found the girl not breathing at Leb Meak's house. Paramedics arrived at the house and unsuccessfully tried to revive the little girl, according to the station.

Later, paramedics reportedly found bruises on her stomach and chest, as well as a large bruise on her face.

A police official told reporters that it appeared that the abuse had gone on for some time. According to the criminal complaint, Meak allegedly told police that he "roughed her up [a] little bit" while changing the toddler's diaper, reported CBS Minnesota.

Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell told the station that the some bruises were fresh and some had been a bit older. After having been in law enforcement for over 20 years, he told reporters that this was one of the worst cases of child abuse he's seen.

"You can't get involved in things like this because it's unexplainable," Schnell said. "There is nothing that this little girl could have ever done to warrant the level of abuse she had to face."

Police say that Meak -- who is not the child's biological father -- had been watching her for a few weeks while the child's mother lived in nearby Farmington, Minn. Police also say that the suspect had been living with his parents; his father was the only one home at the time the toddler was found dead.

Meak's own children are in child protective custody, according to CBS Minnesota. Investigators are uncertain why the child was in his primary custody.

They also added the mother of the child, Meak's girlfriend, could face charges, but nothing has been officially filed, according to the station.